Institute

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Institute

The term Institute has been derived from the Latin word 'Institutum' which means 'Facility' or 'Habit; from 'Instituere' meaning 'Build', 'Create', 'Raise' or 'Educate'. The dictionary also provides varied meanings of an Institute. Of all the meanings, the one covered under this topic, is the one which is related to education at any level or of any type. In this sense, Institute is - 'An association organized to promote art or science or education'. It can also be referred that an 'Institute is an organizational body created for specific purpose which is education'. Another aspect attached with term 'Institute' is based on research which is also a type of education. Here the institute is referred to as an association organized for research purposes. In a nutshell, an institute is an organization, association, establishment or a system where education is imparted. What do institutes look like or what are they composed of or what is their structure? You don't need to look at the sign board of an institute and search for the term 'Institute' as it may or may not be mentioned. Look around and you will find institute all over, not in the literal sense but in a metaphorical sense. All the schools, colleges, universities, polytechnics, academies, education centres, departments are institutes themselves. In some countries institutes are part of a university or exist as separate autonomous institutions. Similarly colleges also have certain institutes under their administration. Because of the broader sense of institute, some countries actually term their schools as institutes, example Japan. In United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, the title 'Institute' is a protected word and companies or other organisations may only use that word if they are "organisations which are carrying out research at the highest level or to professional bodies of the highest standing". Furthermore, if a company is carrying on a business under a different name to the company name, that business name must comply with the Business Names Act. Use of the title 'Institute' requires approval from the Secretary of State. Failure to seek approval is a criminal offence. Institutes exist in various forms as mentioned above but there are specialised institutes as well whose focus is on certain skills and disciplines, like those which provide subject-specific education like engineering institutes, management institutes etc. There are others whose mode of education is unconventional i.e. distance education.

Difference between Institute and Institution

Institute and Institution are similarly spelled and pronounced. They often confuse us, should we use the word institute or institution? The difference between 'Institute' and 'Institution' is very bleak. To a large extent these terms are / can be used interchangeably. Institute is often used as part of the name of a specific institution and in many cases vice-versa.

However, based on the existing pattern of Institutes and Institutions, the differences are summed below:

Institute - Institute is an organisation whose main purpose is to advance the study of a particular subject. Institutes are educations specific therefore their scope is limited. School, College, University are different forms of an Institute. For example - Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India.

Institution - Institution is an organization whose main purpose is to pursue a certain purpose which can encompass education as well apart from other activities like charity, welfare etc. Institutions are not restricted to a singular objective or issue therefore they are dynamic in nature. Institutions exist in the form of Interest Groups, Internet Forums, Political Parties, Virtual Communities and so on. For example - World Wide Fund for Nature.

Various Forms of Institute

  • School.
  • College.
  • University.
  • Education Centre.
  • Polytechnic.
  • Academy.

Types of Institutes

Institute of Engineering / Technology - Institutes which specialise in providing education in the field of engineering and or technology are known as Institute of Engineering / Technology. They can be named as just Institute of Engineering or Institute of Technology or may have both terms in their title in any manner. These are the most popular institutes in the world as engineering and technology courses are highly paid and esteemed. They can exist in the form of a college or a university. They can also be a constituent institute of a college or university as well and can be autonomous entity as well. In many cases they may be termed as 'Engineering Schools' even though they are not schools, like Melbourne School of Engineering which is a constituent engineering institute of University of Melbourne. Though they are specialised in providing Engineering / Technology courses, they also offer interdisciplinary courses. These may exist as institutions offering course/courses in just one field of specialisation, like Institute of Noise Control Engineering in Indiana, U.S.A. In some countries they may also be known as IT institutes like India's famous, prestigious ITI's and IIIT's (Indian Institute of Information Technology).

Examples of Institutes of Engineering / Technology in the World

Institute of Medical Education - An Institute which imparts education related to medicine and its' allied services is known as Institute of Medical Education. They are more widely termed as 'Medical Institutes'. Other terms used for these institutes are Health Sciences Institute, Institute of Clinical Research and so forth. Since the field of medicine is vast these institutions are and can be based on various medical specialisations like dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy etc. In many instances an Institute of Medical Education maybe located near or within the premises of a hospital, hence they might be named as Sardar Patel Medical Institute of Nursing and Hospital, India. In other instances, these institutes have a tie-up with hospital/hospitals where budding doctors get a first-hand experience. Similar to other educational institutes these are in the form of colleges, universities, medical institutes termed as medical schools. There are certain bodies / body of authority for such institutes which grants recognition of medical qualifications, provides accreditation, grants registration to medical practitioners and monitors medical practice. Medical Council of India is one such body. For getting admission in to these institute one has to appear for certain medical entrance exams depending on country to country. Typical degrees provided by these institutes upon completion of a programme or course are MBBS, BDS, MS, MDS, MD etc.

Examples of Institute of Medical Education in the World

Institute of Management - An Institute which offers courses or programmes in the field of management is known as Institute of Management or 'Management Institutes'. These are also known as Business Schools even when they are not schools, like Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India. Similarly some of such institutes are also known as 'Indian Institute of Business Studies' in India. They are also popularly known as M.B.A. Institutes or Schools as they are famous for one of the most pursued degree course, i.e. M.B.A. Glion institute of Higher Education, Switzerland and Indian Institute of Management, India are some of the examples of Management Institutes. Management encompasses various specialised fields like Marketing, Finance, HRD, Operations and Systems etc., thus specialised management institutes may exist separately instead of being a part of a larger management institute.

Based on this criteria, Institute of Management can be subdivided into:

  • Hotel Management Institute - An institute which specialises in courses related to management of hospitality operations in hotels, restaurants etc., is known as Hotel Management Institute or Institute of Hotel Management. As these provide education related to management of Service Based Industries, these are often referred as 'Hospitality Management Institutes'. They are also known as 'Hotel and Tourism Management Institutes', 'Hotel Administration Institutes'. Some reputed Hospitality corporations have their own institutes which provide internship programs, management training programs and direct placements in their respective branches like Hilton Worldwide. Some Hotel Management Institutes have tie-ups with such corporations where academic and practical education is divided amongst both associations.

Examples of Hotel Management Institutes in the World:

1.  Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, Delhi, India.
2.  Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France.
3.  Institute of Hospitality, Surrey, United Kingdom.
4.  International College of Hotel Management, Kilkenny, Australia.

  • Chartered Management Institute - An institute which provides education in management, accounting, auditing and leadership especially for becoming Chartered Management Professional like Chartered Manager or Chartered Accountant is known as Chartered Management Institute. In some countries these institutes are meant for Managers and other top level executives only. In India, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 (Act No. XXXVIII of 1949) for the regulation of the profession and examination of Chartered Accountants in India. There are similarly structured institutes whose scope of education also involves other specialised fields of business administration and as such these have varied terminology.

Examples of variation in terminology of Chartered Management Institute:

1.  Chartered Management Institute, UK.
2.  Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Chapter Street, London.
3.  Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India
4.  Institute of Management Consultants, USA.
5.  Chartered Institute of Management Consultants, USA.

  • Retail Institute - An institute which specialises in education related to retailing is known as Retail Institute. Retailing refers to selling commodities directly to consumers through short and convenient channels like malls. Retail Institutes are also referred as 'Retail Management Institutes'. Retail encompasses a wide range of products therefore some of the retail institutes are specialised in certain products, like Food Marketing Institute, Virginia, USA. Some of the retail institutes have been established by retail industry, council, board or any other related organisation. Like, the Retail Institute, New Zealand which is an industry training organisation (ITO) owned and governed by the retail industry. It's board members are representatives of large, medium and small retailers as well as the New Zealand Retailers Association.

Examples of Retail Institutes in the World:

1.  Asian Retail Institute, India.
2.  Canadian Retail Institute.
3.  ARA Retail Institute, Australia.
4.  Oxford Institute of Retail Management, UK.

Distance Learning Institute - An Institute where education is moulded in such a way that physical presence of a student is not required, is known as Distance Learning Institute. They are also known as 'Distance Education Institutes', and 'Correspondence Study Institutes' and other similar related names. Education in these institutes is especially meant for students who live in far off places, sometimes even all over the globe and are unable to attend classes due to a number of reasons. These institutes use unconventional means of study which includes home delivered study material, television telecast, radio broadcast, web conferencing, email etc. Distance Learning Institutes are known as such, because of their mode of education which is convenient and cheaper as compared to conventional study. These institutes exist in the form of schools, colleges, universities, centres etc. Sometimes these institutes are also referred as 'Open Education Institutes' or 'Open Universities' which are slightly different in their set-up and authority from conventional distance learning institutes. In certain cases informal education is provided through institutes whose name is based on the term 'Open'. One such institute is the 'Open World Learning Institute' which is actually Not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation based in Duluth, MN, USA. OWL institute is different from others in the sense that it offers digitized material which is free and available openly for educators, home-schoolers students and self-learners to use and re-use these for teaching, learning and research. This is actually, an unconventional online institute. The conventional 'Online Education Institutes' are not structured around the above mentioned policy. Online educational institute is a type of Distance Learning Institute whose education material is mainly provided through electronic media like television, radio and the Internet. Those which are completely internet based are known as 'Virtual Universities' which are specialised form of online education institutes.

Examples of Distance Learning Institutes in the World:

  • Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, India.
  • Alberta Distance Learning Centre, Canada.
  • Liberty University Online, USA.
  • Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

Fashion Designing Institute - An Institute which offers various courses in Fashion Designing and related fields is known as Fashion Designing Institute. Also known as Fashion Design Institute, Institute of Fashion Design/Designing, School of Fashion Designing, Fashion Designing School, these all are especially meant for those who are inclined towards Fashion Designing. The top cream of such institutes are located in fashion capitals of the world, Milan, Paris, New York, London etc. Fashion Designing is not to be confused with Fashion Technology, though Fashion Designing Institute do offer Fashion Technology courses as well and vice versa.

Some of the Top Fashion Designing Schools of the World:

  • London College of Fashion, London, UK
  • Polimoda Fashion School, Florence, Italy.
  • IstitutoMarangoni, Italy.
  • Paris Fashion Institute, France.

Institute of Education - Institutes which provide graduate and postgraduate study and research in the field of education are known as Institute of Education. Not be confused with educational institutes which can exist in the form of schools, colleges etc. Also not to confuse with the term 'Institution' itself as Institution here refers to an educational organisation. These institutes offer various specialised course in education. Education here refers to the programmes which are 'Teacher Training' courses, in other words courses which prepare the candidates for becoming teachers, professors, lecturers and other related professionals. Though Institute of Education primarily stands for what has been mentioned but in some countries it is not necessary that Institute of education will stand for teachers training institute, example American Educational Institute, New Jersey provides education in Law. Similarly Institute of Education can also be a name of consultancy and so on.

Examples of Institutes of Education in the World

Linguistic Institute - An institute which provides study courses in various languages is known as Linguistic Institute. They are more commonly known as 'Language Schools', 'Institute of Language' or 'Language Institute'. Amongst all the languages English Language Institutes are the most popular. The reason behind this, is that English is a universal and official language in most parts of the world. Also, various foreign exams like TOEFL, are needed to be cleared to study or work abroad.

Examples of Linguistic Institutes in the World

  • Summer Institute of Linguistics, International - USA.
  • Central Institute of Indian Languages, India.
  • Psycholinguistic Institute, Madrid, Spain.
  • Boston Language Institute, USA.

Coach Training Institutes - Institutes which simply provide coaching in various areas like education, sports, business, career or any other area where training is required. These institutes identify the skills and capabilities of an individual and enable the individual to use it to the best of his ability. With a certain amount of training and practice they are made self reliant in areas where they lack, thereby eliminating or reducing their dependence on others in their professional or personal life. Coach Training Institutes provide training and education to different types of individuals like bureaucrats, sportsperson, businessmen, educators, administrators etc. These exist as Informal or Formal institutes of education. As such it is not necessary that coach training institutes will provide any certification or acknowledgement for training provided. Coach Training Institutes are popularly known as 'Coaching Institutes', 'Coaching Centre', 'Tuition Centres' or 'Tutorials'. But the major difference between the western and Indian coaching institute is that the latter one's are majorly involved in academic coaching only, barring a few exceptions. These Indian institutes exist at national or regional level. Some coaching institutes may evolve to become a full fledged institute of higher education.

Examples of Coach Training Institutes in the World

  • Coaches Training Institute, U.S.A.
  • Coaching Institute, Australia.
  • Centre for Coaching, London, UK.
  • PIE Education, India.

Film and Television Institute - Institute which provide courses in the media of film and television, is known as Film and Television Institute. Film and Television Institutes impart training in film making and television programme production. The main area of study of these institutes includes direction, editing, cinematography, audiography, acting, art direction, computer graphics, animation, film scriptwriting etc. These are also referred as 'Acting Schools' or 'Acting Colleges' as acting is the most popular course pursued in these institutes. These may exist in the form of a College, Academy, Centre, University and so on. Some of Film and Television Institute may have an entrance examination which needs to be cleared before getting admission, while some are purely talent based. Many of the well known actors and directors have received education in the institutes before exploring their career in the entertainment industry. Even if they may have not ended up acquiring lead roles, they do get character roles and some turn to direction even though they wanted to be an actor. Either way, the skills and knowledge acquired in these institutes make them 'Good for Something'.

Examples of the Film and Television Institutes of the World

Insurance Institute - An institute which promotes Insurance Education and Training is known as 'Insurance Institute'. Insurance is a form of risk management and as such is of great importance for an individual. Insurance Institutes thus serve a Dual Purpose, one is the awareness of benefits of insurance through it's students and also the acquisition of skills and expertise amongst the candidates to meet the growing needs of multiplicity of customers. In the conventional sense, Insurance Institutes provide education in a formal systematic way to candidates to acquire the profession of an Insurance Officer. How ever there are institutes which have the tag of an 'Insurance Institute' and their primary objective is selling policies or related business. Some do provide education but to certain professionals like teachers. One such example is the 'Ohio Insurance Institute' which offers online course, Insurance Basics for Teachers. The Ohio Insurance Institute is a trade association representing property/casualty (P/C) insurance companies and organizations conducting business throughout the state. As such it's primary focus is the aforesaid objective. Then there are also institutes which cater to the working insurance officers where they address and train the professional in areas where they are lacking. For example - Chartered Insurance Institute, London, specialises in providing training to such individuals. A unique insurance institute is 'Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance' which inculcate education based on moral principles that are emphasised in Islamic belief (Shari'ah) with attention to the human dimension of the economy. Insurance Institutes also exist as specialised institutes which focus on one area or related area of insurance.

Based on the specialisation of Insurance Institutes, they can be categorised as:

Institute of Actuaries - An institute which trains candidates to become an Actuary is known as 'Institute of Actuaries'. Actuaries are professionals who are versed in the collection and interpretation of numerical data especially someone who uses statistics to calculate insurance premiums. Sometimes they are also referred as 'Statisticians' as their work largely involves statistics. 'Institute of Actuaries of India' is such an institute. In United Kingdom, 'Institute and Faculty of Actuaries' is the professional body which represents the actuaries in the country. It operates publicly under the name Actuarial Profession. The Institute also sets examinations, continuing professional development, professional codes and disciplinary standards.

Claims Training Institute - An institute which trains a candidate to become an Insurance Claim Specialist or Agent is known as Claims Training Institute. 'International Insurance Institute, Inc. Claims Training, Australia' which specialises in Claim's' is an example of this type of institute. The terminology may vary from country to country like 'Online Insurance Claims Adjuster School, USA'. It is a constituent institute of 'U.S. Career Institute'. Insurance Claims Adjuster is a designation for an expert who settles the insurance claims of the client.

Marine Insurance Institute - An institute whose speciality involves the loss or damage of ships, cargo, terminals and any transport or cargo by which property is transferred, acquired, or held between the points of origin and final destination, is known as a Marine Insurance Institute. American Institute of Marine Underwriters, USA is one such institute which imparts education in this area of insurance.

Examples of Insurance Institutes of the World

  • Insurance Institute of India, India.
  • Insurance Institute of America, U.S.A.
  • Insurance Institute of Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK.
  • Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

Career Training Institute - An institute which provides students with specialised education which is career or job oriented is known as Career Training Institute. These may provide training services in a number of career streams like electronics, medical, hospitality, tourism etc. The term Career is vast one and as such there are large differences in Career Training Institutes approach and specificity. In some countries like U.S.A. and Canada, some institutes providing distance and / or vocational education are known as Career Training Institute, because their courses are profession oriented and launch a person's career right after he/she graduates from these institutes. Stratford Career Institute, U.S.A. is one such institute. In this sense they can be referred as 'Vocational or Technical Institutes'. There are Career Training Institutes which are career specific, like Analytics Training Institute, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc., which provide education in the science of analysis. Then there are IT Training Institutes like Lithan Genovate which caters to education and career services of the SAP (Systems, Applications and Products), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) professional community in Asia. Career Training Institute can also be referred to as those institutes which provide guidance to candidates in pursuing a certain career or those which provide pre-education of a particular career or desired career. A befitting institute of this type is 'Career Guidance Centre' of Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune, India. Here it is a constituent unit of higher education institute. Institute of Career Guidance, UK, is a professional association for career guidance practitioners in the UK. In this case, Career Training Institute is not only an association but it is also an educational institute catering to the needs of the career guidance practitioners.

Examples of Career Training Institutes of the World

  • ATI Career Training Centre, U.S.A.
  • Career Training Institute of Australia.
  • International Career Institute, London, UK.
  • Pinnacle Career Institute, Bhopal, India.

Photography Institute – An institute which specialises in variety of photography educational courses and training is known as Photography Institute. Photography Institutes are also referred as ‘Photography Schools, Colleges, Universities, Academies or Centres'. These can be formal or informal in nature as some may not provide any certification. Most of these institutes provide various specialised courses - Portrait photography, Fashion photography, Architecture & Interiors photography, Travel photography, Nature photography and Fine art Photography. These institutes are not exclusive to professionals as any amateur or beginner can join them to simply enhance his skills and take better photographs. Some Photography Institutes not only provide training in just still photography, they also provide multimedia training, audio CDs, DVD video training. One such example is 'Brooks Institute, California, U.S.A.' which provides courses in Graphic Design, Film and Video Production, Digital Cinema, Visual Journalism, Wedding Photography and Master of Fine Arts in Screen writing programs. Few of the Photography Institutes offer courses which are designed to allow one to study at his own time, pace and from anywhere in the world, like the 'New York Institute of Photography, USA'. While conventional photography schools offer photographic correspondence courses as a sideline, there are some institutes specialised in teaching photography solely by the home study method, online using the internet. Their methodology provides students fast access to his or her tutor via email, enabling a student - teacher relationship which is structured to be almost equivalent of a conventional classroom as much, as possible. One such institute is ‘The Photography Institute’ which has its branches in United Kingdom, U.S.A, Austria, Canada and few other nations. Though most of the Photography institutes offer a number of specialised courses under one roof, there are some which are based on a particular specialisation. ‘Photographic Commerce LLC’ is a Fashion Photography Institute based in California, U.S.A. There are various others which only provide Fashion Photography education as it is the most popular form of photography. While other exclusive photography institutes do exist but they are very few or none at all.

Examples of Photography Institutes in the World

  • Light & Life Academy, Tamil Nadu, India.
  • Hallmark Institute of Photography, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Photography Studies College, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.  
  • British Institute of Professional Photography, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Computer Institute – An institute which provides education related to computers and to a large extent information technology, is known as Computer Institute. The term ‘Computer’ is restricted to an electronic machine and as such there are institutes which are ‘Computer Specific’ in the sense that they offer courses which are ‘Computer Oriented’ at hardware and software level. These specific institutes may be set up at a large or small level; some are highly reputed and renowned, while others are ‘Just another computer centre at the end of the street’. Some are affiliate research institute of a University, while some are constituent Institutes. However, today computer is used for a range of activities for which study of engineering and/or telecommunications is essential. In this broader sense computer institutes term themselves as - ‘School of Technology and Computer Science’ which is constituent of ‘Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India’. Similar to terminology of other institutes, these are also known by different names like – Computer Coaching Centre, Computer Training Centre, Computer School and so forth. They may exist as independent institute catering to the specific field, while others are part of a larger institute, example ‘Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science’ which is a constituent institute of Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, U.S.A. A variety of specialised courses like networking technologies, security system, web designing, programming and other related programs are also offered. A computer system is composed of both Hardware and Software components. There are Computer Institutes which focus on one aspect more than the others.

This becomes the basis of Computer Institutes, which can be categorised as:

Hardware Institute – An institute which is specialised in providing education of the physical components of a computer is known as Hardware Institute. The learner is provided knowledge of the technology, different components, their interdependence, repair, modification, sale, servicing etc. Since it deals with the physical aspects of computer, networking is also included in the course curriculum. But Networking is a specialisation in hardware and as such Hardware Institutes will simply, be known as Hardware and Networking Institute, like Jetking Computer Hardware & Networking Institute, India.  Some of the certified course provided by hardware Institutes are A+ Certification (hardware),  Network + (networking) Certification, Security+ Certification, Microsoft Certified Server Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).

Software Institute – An Institute which is specialised in providing education of the computer programs and related data with which the computer is operated. Software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation which is intangible. System software manages a variety of independent hardware components so that they work together harmoniously. Some of the certified Software courses provided by Software Institutes are - Red Hat Linux International Certification, 3 levels of Oracle Certification in several disciplines - Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), and Oracle Certified Master (OCM) etc.

Examples of Computer Institutes in the World

  • Computer Institute, Maryland, U.S.A.
  • Institute for Quantum Computing, Waterloo, Canada.
  • CMS Computer Institute, India, Delhi, Bangalore etc.
  • London School of Computer Education, London, U.K.

Christian Institute – An Institute which is managed by Christians, Church or Christian Organisation etc., professing religious education in an informal or formal setup or method and which may also impart conventional academic education mostly to Christians, is known as Christian Institute. These are also known as ‘Christian Seminaries’ and ‘Theological Colleges’. In regions, where Christians are in minority, Christian institutes exist and maybe funded by the government to provide education exclusively to Christians in conventional academic courses or otherwise. Government funding is provided to give them equal opportunities as compared to the majority religious group in a country. St. Stephen's College, Delhi, India is a college which provides conventional education to Christians who are in minority. The college is a member of AIACHE. The All India Association for Christian Higher Education (AIACHE) is a professional Association of 350 higher education colleges in India. Some institutes are both institutes and a place of worship. For example, Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is a specialist Institute, providing distance learning opportunities in Catholic Theology, Evangelisation, Catechesis, Philosophy, Ministry and Religious Education at every level from short, informal courses to B.A.s, M.A.s and research degrees.

Some Institutes are seemingly misleading, when it comes to naming them as ‘Christian Institutes’ even when in the conventional or specific sense they are not so, as they have been established for other purposes. This can be seen in the form of the ‘Christian Institute’ (CI) which is a British Evangelical Christian Pressure Group established to promote a Conservative Christian viewpoint. Certain such institutes can also cause confusion whether they are normal academic institutions or religion oriented or are simply some organisation. Here, we can cite an institute named ‘Christian Institute of Management’, Annanagar, Chennai, India. It offers various levels of educational courses in Christian Management - Master in Christian Management, Doctoral Research in Christian Management etc. Then there are institutes which are specifically established to promote education of Christianity. Institute for Christian Studies (ICS), Ontario is such an institute. ICS is an accredited, member-supported graduate school with a biblically-rooted mandate to advance Christian Scholarship. It has been founded to pursue philosophy, humanities and social sciences, it offers students - Masters and Ph.D degree programs in several different areas of concentration.

A form or variation of Christian Institutes also exists which are known as Bible Colleges or Bible Institutes, the latter being the most uncommon name. They are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. They differ from other Christian Institutes on the basis that Bible, itself is the Curriculum. Bible colleges are associated primarily with evangelical Protestant groups. Their education is based primary to prepare people for roles in Christian ministry. The Bible-centred curriculum is typically supplemented by structured programs of Christian service. Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) accredits many Bible colleges in the United States. Bible colleges may also be accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, by regional accreditors, or by international counterpart. Such institutes generally confer certificates, associates degrees, diplomas or bachelor's degrees in biblical studies and Christian ministry. Example - Bethel Bible College, Coimbatore, Kerala. However, there are institutes which operate without conventional educational accreditation or government licensing. In their opinion outside interference in the affairs compromises their efforts. Example - West Coast Baptist College, West Coast, U.S.A.

Examples of Christian Institute in the World:

Institute of Social Sciences – An institute which specialises in providing education and research related to Social Sciences is known as Institute of Social Sciences. Social Science is the study of society and its various fields, which include the study of archaeology, anthropology, business administration, economics, geography, linguistics, political science, sociology, history etc. Similar to the terminology related with other institutes wherein the word ‘Institute’ may not be attached in the manner specified, thus these institutes are known as ‘Social Science Institutes’, ‘Centre of Social Science or Sciences’, ‘College of Social Sciences’, ‘School of Social Sciences’, 'University of Social Sciences’ and so on. In many higher education institutes there are ‘Departments’ and ‘Faculties of Social Sciences’ which mostly exist as a part of the institute. Some of the Social Sciences institutes are named as ‘University of Social Sciences and Humanities’ like the one in Dinh Tien Hoang, District 1, HCM City, Vietnam. Institute of Social Sciences also exist as ‘Specialist Institutes’ in the sense that they provide education and or research in one particular field. For example, 'Institute of Social Psychology, Houghton Street London'. These can be a part of larger Institute which deal with a few selected number of individual disciplines instead of all the disciplines. Some Institutes are also known as 'Humanities and Social Sciences Institute'. 'Humanities and Social Sciences' have similar subjects but the methods to study these subjects differ. Social science uses the scientific method to explore these subjects, while humanities use more analytical methods of study. There are a host of courses which provide undergraduate and post graduate diplomas, degrees, short term courses etc. for the students studying in these institutes.

Examples of Institute of Social Sciences in the World:

  • International Centre of Social Science Education and Research in Hague, Netherlands.
  • College of Humanities and Social Sciences, (Montclair State University), USA
  • Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, India.
  • Research Institute for Social Sciences (Keele University) Staffordshire, U.K.

Institute for Learning – An Institute which is mostly and or solely provides education and or counselling on the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge is known as Institute for Learning. Institute for Learning are basically set up to improve the education and achievement of those who are lacking or have been deprived of the essential skills of life – professional or social. These institutes have a research-based curriculum, tools, professional development and systems to provide students with high quality instruction and learning opportunities. These institutes may provide customized training, online courses, traditional class based education locally, globally and collaboratively. Because of their specificity towards a certain skill these are somewhat, in nature ‘Vocational Institutes’, in a broader sense, though they may not be known as such. Learning is an activity which has a wide base and as such has multitude of requirements and implementations. Therefore, an Institute for Learning as an educational body focuses on different agendas and issues but it’s core aims are the same – providing and or improving knowledge, talent and or skill for starting a career or further improving one’s potential. They may conventionally exist as constituent institutes of a university or other educational institutes at pre-graduate, graduate and or post-graduate level. On the other hand they are also established as autonomous institutes which cater to academically qualified / under qualified, unskilled, socially backward and or working professionals requiring extra training or extra honing.

None the less, there are certain organisations who are involved in the process of learning but in various capacities. To name some – ‘The Institute for Learning (IFL), London’, is the mandatory professional body for teachers, trainers, tutors, lecturers, assessors, etc. (collectively referred to as teachers) working in the further education and skills sector, in England and in other adult learning settings including private and in-house training provision. Then there is ‘The Institute for Learning Innovation, Edgewater, Maryland, U.S.A’. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding, facilitating and communicating about free-choice learning. The organisation helps museums, libraries and other free-choice learning institutions to support their visitors' quests for learning across their lifespan. Through research, evaluation, dialogue, and support, the ILI strengthens individuals and institutions capacity to create a society where free-choice learning opportunities are recognized, valued and supported. Another case, of an Institte for Learning existing in a different form is - 'British Institute for Learning and Development, Bristol, U.K.' It is a registered charity: 328229. It addresses the needs and raises the status of all those involved in learning and development (both organisations and individuals). Learning Institute can themselves be based on improving ‘Learning Disabilities’ amongst those affected by it. Learning Disabilities are the disabilities which limit one’s ability to learn, these can be caused due to various reasons – biological, psychological etc. One of such institute is the ‘British Institute of Learning Disabilities, Worcestershire, United Kingdom’.

Examples of Institute for Learning in the World:

  • Institute of Lifelong Learning, (University of Leicester), U.K.
  • International Institute for Learning, Inc., New York, U.S.A.
  • Australian Institute of Learning, Scottsdale Drive, Rabina, Australia.
  • Institute of Learning (University of Delhi).

Search Institute – Search Institute, if taken ‘Literally’ can be described as ‘An Institute which is involved in search of any object which is either rare, undiscovered or non-existent as of present’. In a formal set up there is one such Institute which is actually involved in ‘Search’ and it is SETI. It is an abbreviated form of ‘Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence’. SETI Institute is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research, education and public outreach. Founded in 1984, the Institute is governed by the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. The Institute comprises 3 Centers, 1) Center for SETI Research, 2) Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe and the 3) Center for Education and Public Outreach. As it is evident, it is involved in search and research of ‘Aliens’. There can be other formal or informal setup’s of such Institutes, but largely, these are mostly apparent in the form of ‘Research Institutes’, which have a similar purpose. But most evident form of a ‘Search Institute’ is not actually a search institute, in its conventional sense, though on a ‘Platform of Wider Perspective’, it can be called as such. This institute is 'Search Institute®, Minneapolis, U.S.A.' It is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian organization, which is committed towards helping in creating healthy communities for every young person. Amongst, many of its many functions, it provide tools, resources, and services to equip parents, educators, youth workers, policy makers and other leaders to be valued and enabled to thrive. It was founded in 1958 by Dr. Merton P. Strommen as an applied social science research organization focused on the healthy development of young people. The institute originally focused on research regarding youth in religious settings; this mission has evolved to a broad focus on the healthy development of all children and youth in multiple settings in community and society.